Is this a new low for the Police

[johnnyboxer]

Is there any point to this thread?

The subject line doesn't invite debate but instead simply pre-judges the situation with the predictable and tiresome consequence that the forum will be divided in two (yet again).

Who agrees with Simon and who doesn't

I do

[P4ulie]

I look at that picture & just see two coppers keeping out of the wind :whistle:

If you're using the speed limit as an approximate, shaving off half a dozen mph when spying two hi viz at a junction shouldn't be a problem?

[Mike101]

If one doesn't ride like an arse and speed in town or near black spots then what's the problem?

Don't blame the police for being an idiot!

Mike

[Old Git Ray]

Past two police officers today, hiding behind a fence and a wall speed checking cars travelling away from them. Totally blind from view!

Is this a new low for the South Wales Police!!

Or have the residents requested it because one of their kids has been killed by a speeder ?

If this was my residential street I would be glad they were there.

Scum on the make - a revenue exercise. If they were really interested in safety they would be standing on the pavement in full view. When the police and the government can accept that a fast driver is not necessarily a dangerous driver and that a slow driver is not necessarily a safe driver then progress can be made. I should point out that I have no
penalty points against me and never have.

Trevor

Hey Trev, you're a cock (thumbs)

Gotta agree with "g00ner"

[Gedge]

Scum on the make - a revenue exercise. If they were really interested in safety they would be standing on the pavement in full view. When the police and the government can accept that a fast driver is not necessarily a dangerous driver and that a slow driver is not necessarily a safe driver then progress can be made. I should point out that I have no
penalty points against me and never have.

Trevor

Its a real shame that your first sentence totally detracts from the valid view that you have made to follow.

Couple of quick points.
1.the police service does not receive any revenue from fines. the Hypothecation schemes ( where safety camera partnerships received a proportion to spend ONLY on road safety schemes ) ended many years ago.
2. referring to police officers doing their job as 'scum' makes you sound incredibly stupid..
3.FWIW , looking at the photo they appear to be local officers not Roads Policing. ( as they don't appear to be wearing white hats). Its highly likely they are there in response to public complaints. They aren't 'hiding'..The officer with the camera has their back to wall, apparently using it to steady themselves going by the position of the right leg..or maybe sheltering from wind. either way they aren't jumping out on cars ( if you ever operated a Handheld you would know that this doesn't work as they take a second or two just to fix on a target.)
4. As they are local officers there is every chance that even if they catch you they wont prosecute, instead you will get some sort of roadside lecture. The equipment they have requires you to be dealt with there and then so except in extreme circumstance ( eg you fail to stop) you wont get a fine through the post. ( unlike the camera vans.


HTH

[Cone]

So more to the point why hide and not be visible, and for measure i wasn't speeding either!

But if there was an accident previously and they are there the police should be on display as hiding from one field of traffic will have no benefits!

And the photo -make what you make of it but the gun was held parallel and outstretched. I neither would ever call police Scum as I have many family members in the force, however they should be trying to build bridges, the perception when you see these officers hidden from view with a speed gun from one flow of traffic is nothing more than catching people for fines. You may be right that they dont get revenue but it makes you wonder about their quota system as if it was to make traffic aware they would be visible not hidden from view.

That was my main point, I kinda felt let down by the force and felt like this was more in kin of the Gendarmes!

[DavidS]

It's nice to see some Police.
We have a longish straight in our village, with a zebra crossing in the middle.
We have just had to set up a Speedwatch group because of a lack of interest from the police.

In just three or four sessions they have reported well over 150 people for exceeding 40 in the 30 limit, despite wearing hi-viz jackets and standing in full view.
They tried to record 35+ (as is the norm) but there were too many to keep up.
We are now buying a headcam as the number of overtakes on the zebra crossing is mindblowing.

Now it looks like we will have to pay for our own traffic calming as no-one has died or been seriously injured. I would have thought preventative work was worthwhile but we only got the crossing and 30mph rather than 40 because an old lady died crossing the road about 15 years ago.

I don't get why it is so difficult to drive a the posted limits. There is NO excuse for speeding in built up areas.

[Old Git Ray]

........
3.FWIW , looking at the photo they appear to be local officers not Roads Policing. ( as they don't appear to be wearing white hats). Its highly likely they are there in response to public complaints. They aren't 'hiding'..The officer with the camera has their back to wall, apparently using it to steady themselves going by the position of the right leg..or maybe sheltering from wind. either way they aren't jumping out on cars ( if you ever operated a Handheld you would know that this doesn't work as they take a second or two just to fix on a target.)

Thanks for that Gedge but I do disagree on one point. I do think they are hiding but I do not have a problem with it. The posted speed limit sign has already given plenty of warning as to the speed limit, as has the general, obvious, residency on the street.

What is the point of being there in full view if they want to catch speeders who are already ignoring all this (as would be their posted role for that day having been issued with a radar gun). Anyone who wants to break the law will see them, slow down chuckling to themselves (and probably post it on the internet as a Police 'fail') and then speed up 100m down the road. If they are covert then the speeder is less likely to know when or where they are likely to get caught and this consequetly is a better deterrent.

[Gedge]

........
3.FWIW , looking at the photo they appear to be local officers not Roads Policing. ( as they don't appear to be wearing white hats). Its highly likely they are there in response to public complaints. They aren't 'hiding'..The officer with the camera has their back to wall, apparently using it to steady themselves going by the position of the right leg..or maybe sheltering from wind. either way they aren't jumping out on cars ( if you ever operated a Handheld you would know that this doesn't work as they take a second or two just to fix on a target.)

Thanks for that Gedge but I do disagree on one point. I do think they are hiding but I do not have a problem with it. The posted speed limit sign has already given plenty of warning as to the speed limit, as has the general, obvious, residency on the street.

What is the point of being there in full view if they want to catch speeders who are already ignoring all this (as would be their posted role for that day having been issued with a radar gun). Anyone who wants to break the law will see them, slow down chuckling to themselves (and probably post it on the internet as a Police 'fail') and then speed up 100m down the road. If they are covert then the speeder is less likely to know when or where they are likely to get caught and this consequetly is a better deterrent.

I see your point and agree to an extent.. actually , standing there in full view ( even parking a full on Jam sandwich in the layby or a safety camera van) people still don't spot you, so hiding is unnecessary.. I disagree that these two were hiding as it looks like they are using the wall for support.. Perhaps the effect of people seeing them and warning other road users (coming the wrong way), is more beneficial than standing in full view ???

[Ourdavid]

If you live in a small village with a high percentage of speeders like us you'll welcome them. There's cracking spot where they operate and the aim of our Police campaign is to prove to the council that there is a need for an illuminated speed sign to warn them of their excessive speed.